Chapter 434

The application of tactics and strategy is more important than the individual combat ability of soldiers.

But the Jiangxia naval force in Huang Zu's hands truly possessed a resounding reputation in history.

At the same time, this Jiangxia naval force is also the trump card army that the entire Jingzhou relies on most.

After listening to what Zhuge Liang said.

It would certainly be a lie to say that Liu Biao, Cai Mao, and Kuai Yue were not tempted.

If Sun Ce is also willing to send troops, they will have a high probability of finishing off Gu Yi!

However.

Liu Biao still had concerns in his heart.

He then asked Zhuge Liang:

"Young friend Kongming, if Sun Bofu is also willing to join this alliance, there is indeed no problem with our Jingzhou sending troops."

"But if Gu Linzhi dies."

"How should our Jingzhou respond to Dong Zhongying's retaliation?"

Hearing this, Zhuge Liang smiled and did not directly answer Liu Biao's question.

Instead, he gently waved the white feather fan in his hand and asked in return:

"Governor, if Gu Linzhi really dies."

"Do you think Cao Mengde, Yuan Benchu, and others will let go of this good opportunity to fight for territory?"

"At that time, all the warlords in the world will attack Dong Zhongying together."

"Even if his foundation is still vast."

"But having lost Gu Linzhi, he will be like someone whose hands and feet have been cut off."

"Facing the siege of various warlords, he will be too busy to even protect his own territory."

"How can he still find time to attack Jingzhou?"

What Zhuge Liang said made Liu Biao fall into silence again.

Actually.

What Zhuge Liang said was indeed correct.

A large family and a big business mean that there are more risks and worries to consider.

If Gu Yi dies.

The three provinces of Yanzhou, Yuzhou, and Xuzhou that Gu Yi newly captured will definitely be counterattacked by Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.

Besides this.

Bingzhou in the Hebei region, as well as Si Shui Pass and Hulao Pass near Luoyang, will also become targets for the various warlords again.

As long as Dong Zhuo is firmly pinned to the west of Hangu Pass.

That means he will be unable to spare the energy to attack Jingzhou.

In other words.

Jingzhou will turn from danger to safety.

After clarifying these issues, Liu Biao's resistance to sending troops decreased a lot again.

And Cai Mao and Kuai Yue had long been persuaded by Zhuge Liang and were willing to agree to Liu Bei's alliance invitation.

As for Huang Zu of Jiangxia.

He also has a kinship relationship with Zhuge Liang.

Plus, the three major Jingzhou families, "Cai, Kuai, and Huang," have always prospered and suffered together.

Therefore, as long as Cai Mao and Kuai Yue both agree to send troops, Huang Zu naturally cannot refuse this proposal.

Another quarter of an hour passed.

In the silence, Liu Biao slowly spoke:

"Young friend Kongming's words are reasonable."

"Since that is the case, our Jingzhou is willing to agree to the alliance with Liu Xuande."

"However, if Sun Bofu is unwilling to send troops, then this alliance will be directly voided."

Liu Biao is indeed a cunning old fox.

As the saying goes.

If we are going into the water, then everyone should go into the water together!

If this alliance only consisted of the two forces of Liu Biao and Liu Bei, Liu Biao believed the probability of success was not high.

But if Sun Ce were added, the feasibility of this matter would increase exponentially.

"Please rest assured, Governor."

"Everything can proceed according to what we have agreed upon."

"After Sun Ce officially sends his troops, it will not be too late for Garrison Commander Huang of Jiangxia to send his troops."

Zhuge Liang still had that calm and composed look on his face.

But deep in his palms, he was already silently sweating.

Although.

The Zhuge Liang of later generations was very formidable.

He possessed extremely high achievements in internal affairs, military governance, warfare, diplomacy, and strategy.

At the same time, he was also the only person in the late Han and Three Kingdoms era to have entered both the Temple of Culture and the Temple of Martial Arts.

(PS: Du Yu also entered both the Temple of Culture and the Temple of Martial Arts, but according to various historical records, Du Yu has always been regarded as a person of the Western Jin Dynasty, rather than a person of the late Han and Three Kingdoms period.)

(Zhuge Liang had long entered the Temple of Martial Arts, and in the Temple of Martial Arts, he is one of the Ten Philosophers, ranking higher than the seventy-two generals.)

(He did not enter the Temple of Culture at first, but was later placed in it by Emperor Chengzu of Ming, Zhu Di, during his reign, and he ranked in the forefront.)

(There was another saying before that Zhuge Liang was only placed in it during the Yongzheng reign, but this saying has basically been overturned now.)

(It can be confirmed that Zhuge Liang was placed in the Temple of Culture during the reign of Emperor Chengzu of Ming, Zhu Di.)

……

However, no matter how formidable the Zhuge Liang of original history was.

He is still young and lacks experience now.

Being able to maintain enough composure and calmness in front of Liu Biao was already an extremely difficult task.

And next, a second diplomatic mission awaited Zhuge Liang.

It was also the most critical link in this coalition.

Persuading Sun Ce to send troops!

……

North of the Yangtze River

Guangling Commandery City

Gu Yi set the date for the official southern expedition to be half a month later.

Drawing on the lessons of Cao Cao's failed southern expedition in history, Gu Yi made full preparations for the southern expedition.

First, the most important point is to prevent the plague!

In the original history of the Battle of Red Cliffs, although there were many factors that led to Cao Cao's defeat.

But the point that cannot be ignored most is that in the year of the Battle of Red Cliffs, a plague was prevalent in Jingzhou on a large scale.

This caused the Cao army soldiers, who were already landlubbers, to face a situation that was even worse.

Gu Yi would not let his soldiers pay a senseless sacrifice because of a disaster like the plague.

Therefore.

He made preparations to prevent the plague in advance.

Besides this.

The army also carried a considerable number of physicians.

If soldiers were injured due to war, they could receive rapid medical treatment.

Besides preventing the plague, it is also necessary to prevent seasickness.

Gu Yi would not be like Cao Cao, creating a "chain of iron cables" to connect all the warships together.

This time, he brought a total of ninety thousand soldiers for the southern expedition.

The fifty thousand naval troops had long been trained by Gan Ning to be proficient in water, so there was no such thing as seasickness.

But those forty thousand elite infantrymen were mostly born and raised in the north.